GRAPHIC: Car rams into peaceful protesters at a rally in Virginia1:30

Shocking scenes have unfolded in Charlottesville, Virginia, with a car ramming into a group of peaceful protesters. Courtesy: Various

August 12th 2017

a year ago

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James Alex Fields Jr. is on trial for first-degree murder for allegedly driving his car into a crowd of people protesting against white nationalists. Picture: APSource:AP

The man accused of crashing into a crowd of protesters in Charlottesville last year, killing Heather Heyer, 32, reportedly called the victim’s mother a “communist” and “one of those anti-white supremacists”.

James Alex Fields Jr reportedly made the comments when speaking to his own mother during a telephone call from jail.

During a December 2017 call, Fields reportedly told his mother, Samantha Bloom, that Heyer’s mother, Susan Bro, who’s been politically active since the August 2017 incident, was “one of those anti-white supremacists”.

“She lost her daughter,” Fields’ mother replied, according to BuzzFeed.

“It doesn’t f***ing matter,” Fields said. “She’s a communist.”

James Alex Fields Jr., is seen participating in a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville last August. He later allegedly rammed a car through a crowd of protesters. Picture: APSource:AP

Fields is on trial in the US for first-degree murder and other charges stemming from the incident that killed Heyer and injured dozens of others during a “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville on August 12, 2017.

It comes as two witnesses in the trial said that Fields showed no remorse prior to slamming into the protesters and killing Heyer.

Sarah Bolstad and Hayden Calhoun were with Fields just 30 minutes before the 2017 rally and said that he had appeared calm and made plans to meet with a friend for lunch, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports.

Heather Heyer was killed during a protest over a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville. Picture: APSource:AP

Prosecutors have told the jury Fields deliberately ploughed into the crowd because he supported the white nationalists and was angry about violent clashes between the two sides earlier in the day.

After the violence, police declared the event an “unlawful assembly” and forced the crowd to disband before white nationalists could deliver a series of planned speeches. The rally was organised in part to protest the planned removal of a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Fields’ lawyers told jurors Fields was “scared to death” after witnessing street brawling and other violence between the two groups.

Jurors were also shown a text message sent by Fields that included an image of Adolf Hitler. Fields sent the text to his mother days before the 2017 rally. It was a response to his mother’s plea to be careful. Fields wrote: “we’re not the one (sic) who need to be careful,” accompanied by Hitler’s image.

The Dodge Charger allegedly driven by James Alex Fields Jr. shortly after driving into a crowd of protesters in Charlottesville. Picture: AFPSource:AFP

Charlottesville Deputy Sheriff Paul Critzer he chased Fields after he recognised his Dodge Challenger as a car described as being involved in a hit-and-run of a pedestrian. Sheriff Critzer said Fields pulled over after a short chase, but then took off again. After a second short chase, Fields stopped and was arrested. Sheriff Critzer said Fields appeared calm and apologised for the crash after he put handcuffs on him.

“He said, ‘I’m so sorry,”’ Sheriff Critzer said.

The trial continues although the judge in the trial said the jury could begin deliberating as soon as Thursday afternoon (local time).